Well, I was doing so well. I really liked the hospital, the assignment was good, the people were nice. And then.. I tripped over a strip between the carpet and tile at work. I filled out an incident report, but declined to go to the ED. Frankly I was afraid to. I couldn't afford to miss a shift, I figured I had just pulled a muscle and if I was careful and rested when I was off, I would be fine. But I didn't get fine. And it didn't feel like a pulled muscle. It got worse and worse. I got where I couldn't hardly walk and I spent all my days off in bed. My performance started to lag. I finally went to the doctor and got x-rayed. I had gone home on my off days and went back to workas the results wouldn't be back for several days. My husband called me on Monday and told me the Doctor said I shouldn't be trying to work. My hip was grossly deformed by arthritis, and I had many bone spurs. The fall had caused the final blow to my hip, I was in danger of having my hip totally go out on me at any time. I was not to work until after I saw an orthropedist. Now, I knew I had arthritis, I've had it for years, but even though I had pain in my hip sometimes, I never thought it was that bad, no one ever said it was that bad. I had to tell the hospital I couldn't work until after I saw an orthro MD. I also told the agency. The hospital has reacted predicably, they want to cancel my contract. The agency didn't return my calls for days. I am scared. Finally, I get a call from the workman's comp. people. I have never been treated so badly. She all but said I was trying to stick them with fixing a pre-existing condition. I told her that while I had arthritis, I had passed a physical before the assignment and that my performance was more than satisfactory prior to the fall, so much so they had asked me to extend my contract. I told her that had I not fell, I would still be working there and would have extended my contract. She said she would call me Monday, after she investigated further. My recruiter called and said she had called him and asked him if he had any doubts as to the legitimatecy of my claim. He told her that he did not. I am really scared now, I am the only means of support for my family, I have 3 kids, and I think they are going to shaft me. I am retaining a lawyer. Anybody got any better ideas?
